Basal ischnoceran louse phylogeny (Phthiraptera : Ischnocera : Goniodidae and heptapsogasteridae)

A phylogenetic analysis of generic relationships for avian chewing lice of families Goniodidae and Heptapsogasteridae (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) is pr esented. These lice, hosted by galliform, columbiform and tinamiform birds are reputedly basal in the phylogeny of Ischnocera. A cladistic analysis of sixty-two adult morphological characters from thirty-one taxa revealed thi rty equally parsimonious cladograms. The phylogeny is well resolved within Heptap-sogasteridae and supports the monophyly of subfamily Strongylocotina e (sensu Eichler 1963). Resolution within Goniodidae is lower but suggests that the genera hosted by Columbiformes are largely monophyletic. Mapping h ost taxonomy on to the phylogeny of the lice reveals a consistent pattern w hich is largely congruent down to the rank of host family, although at lowe r taxonomic levels the association appears to be more complex. The inclusio n of more louse taxa may help considerably to unravel the coevolutionary hi story of both the hosts and their parasites.